Jakarta is bracing for potential flooding, landslides, and other hydrometeorological disasters as the city prepares for the Christmas and New Year holidays, with forecasts predicting intense rain and strong winds.
Jakarta Prepares for Extreme Weather During Holiday Season
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts intense rain and strong winds in Jakarta between December 19 and December 22. Winds have already been recorded at speeds up to 55 kmh, exceeding the normal average of below 30kmh.
The extreme weather is attributed to the peak of the rainy season, expected to last until January 2026, as well as a tropical cyclone and two cyclone seeds detected around the country.
Tropical Cyclone Bakung formed over the Indian Ocean southwest of Lampung province in Sumatra and, as of the evening of December 17, was moving away from Indonesia, though still expected to affect weather patterns across the nation.
The BMKG is also monitoring Invest 93S, first detected December 11 south of East Java, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and Invest 95S, detected December 15 near the Arafuru Sea southwest of South Papua province. Both are expected to contribute to heavy rains and strong winds in Jakarta.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno acknowledged the need for stronger mitigation efforts during the holiday season, when travel to and from the city is expected to increase. He emphasized the importance of data from the BMKG, Pushidrosal (the Navy’s Hydrography and Oceanography Center), and other related institutions to better anticipate hazards.
City authorities have been urged to enhance early warning systems and emergency readiness, and to collaborate with neighboring cities to mitigate flood risks. Jakarta’s vulnerability to flooding is due to its lowland location, unchecked development, and excessive groundwater extraction, which contributes to land subsidence.
The Jakarta Water Agency has prepared 590 portable water pumps to assist the existing 612 pump houses in removing floodwater. The Jakarta BPBD has mapped out 12 districts where landslides could occur, including Cilandak, Pasar Minggu, and Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta, as well as Cipayung, Ciracas, and Pasar Rebo in East Jakarta.
The disaster agency has also warned of potential tidal floods in northern parts of the city, including near Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (Ancol Dreamland Park). Construction of a 2.1km seawall in West Ancol is being expedited, with approximately 90% completed as of December 19, and is planned to continue under a multi-year scheme until 2029.
The seawall is part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development project, aiming to build a total of 46km of concrete barriers to protect the city from coastal flooding and land subsidence. Some 20km of seawall has been built in recent years, with the remaining 26km expected to be finished by 2030.
Recent extreme weather events have resulted in several trees falling across the city. Two people died in South Jakarta in November due to falling trees during heavy rains, and another person was injured on December 15 when a tree fell in the same area. The Jakarta Parks and Forestry Agency is pruning and replacing high-risk trees, having pruned around 70,000 trees in recent months.
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